Pumping System with Two Way Communication

• US 20110091329A1
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S), Pentair Water Pool And Spa Incorporated (Pentair Plc (Ireland))
• Original Assignee: Danfoss Power Electronics A/S (Danfoss A/S)
• Inventors: Murphy, Kevin, Brown, Edward, Dunn, Dennis, Hruby, Daniel J., Morando, Alberto, Robol, Ronald B., Runarsson, Einar Kjartan, MacCallum, David, Clack, Kenneth N., Berthelsen, Lars Hoffmann, Yahnker, Christopher R., Stiles, Robert W. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 10,871,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/1
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1245 Recirculating pumps for swimming pool water
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/1281 Devices for distributing chemical products in the water of swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/129 Systems for heating the water content of swimming pools solar collectors using pools F24S10/17, F24S10/10; by solar radiation F24S20/02
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/148 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/103 Responsive to speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0077 Safety measures F04D15/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49817 with other than ancillary treating or assembling

Abstract

A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool includes a water pump, a variable speed motor, and an arrangement for controlling the variable speed motor. The pumping system further includes an auxiliary device operably connected to the arrangement for controlling, and an arrangement for providing two-way communication between the arrangement for controlling and the auxiliary device. The arrangement for controlling is capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the arrangement for providing two-way communication. In one example, the arrangement for controlling is capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter. In addition or alternatively, the arrangement for controlling is configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameters received. A method for controlling the pumping system is also provided.

Claims

1. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for controlling the variable speed motor;

an auxiliary device operably connected to the means for controlling; and

means for providing two-way communication between the means for controlling and the auxiliary device, the means for controlling being capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the means for providing two-way communication and being capable of independently controlling the variable speed motor without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary device.

2. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter received from the auxiliary device.

3. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling further includes a user interface, the means for controlling being capable of receiving a parameter from the user interface and being operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter received from the user interface.

4. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide digital communication.

5. The pumping system of claim 4, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide digital serial communication.

6. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide wireless communication.

7. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform an operation upon the water moved by the water pump.

8. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device includes a user interface device capable of receiving a parameter input by a user, the means for controlling being configured to receive the user input parameter through the means for providing two way communication.

9. The pumping system of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling is configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameter received from the auxiliary device.

10. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for controlling the variable speed motor;

an auxiliary device operably connected to the means for controlling; and

means for providing two-way communication between the means for controlling and the auxiliary device, the means for controlling being capable of receiving a parameter from the auxiliary device through the means for providing two-way communication and being operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter.

11. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling further includes a user interface, the means for controlling being capable of receiving a parameter from the user interface and being operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameter received from the user interface.

12. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide two-way digital communication.

13. The pumping system of claim 12, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide digital serial communication.

14. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide wireless communication.

15. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform an operation upon the water moved by the water pump.

16. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the means for controlling is configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameter received from the auxiliary device.

17. The pumping system of claim 10, wherein the auxiliary device includes a user interface device capable of receiving a parameter input by a user, the means for controlling being configured to receive the user input parameter through the means for providing two way communication.

18. The pumping system of claim 17, wherein the auxiliary device includes a personal computer and wherein at least a portion of the means for providing two-way communication includes a computer network, the personal computer being configured to remotely transmit a parameter to the means for controlling through the computer network.

19. A pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including:

a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water;

a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump;

means for controlling the variable speed motor;

a plurality of auxiliary devices operably connected to the means for controlling; and

means for providing two-way communication between the means for controlling and the auxiliary devices, the means for controlling being capable of receiving a plurality of parameters from the auxiliary devices through the means for providing two-way communication and being configured to optimize a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameters received from the auxiliary devices.

20. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein the means for controlling is operable to selectively alter operation of the motor based upon the parameters received from the auxiliary devices.

21. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein the means for controlling is capable of controlling the variable speed motor independently without receipt of a parameter from the auxiliary devices.

22. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein the means for providing two-way communication is configured to provide digital communication.

23. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein at least one of the auxiliary devices is configured to perform an operation upon the water moved by the water pump.

24. The pumping system of claim 19, wherein one of the auxiliary devices includes a user interface device capable of receiving a parameter input by a user, the means for controlling being configured to receive the user input parameter through the means for providing two way communication.

25. The pumping system of claim 24, wherein one of the auxiliary devices includes a personal computer and wherein at least a portion of the means for providing two-way communication includes a computer network, the personal computer being configured to remotely transmit a parameter to the means for controlling through the computer network.

26. A method of controlling a pumping system for moving water of a swimming pool, the pumping system including a water pump for moving water in connection with performance of an operation upon the water and a variable speed motor operatively connected to drive the pump, the method comprising the steps of:

providing means for controlling the variable speed motor;

providing an auxiliary device operably connected to the means for controlling;

providing two-way communication between the means for controlling and the auxiliary device, receiving a parameter to the means for controlling from the auxiliary device through the two-way communication; and

selectively altering operation of the motor based upon the parameter.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of providing a user interface, receiving a parameter to the means for controlling from the user interface, and selectively altering operation of the motor based upon the parameter received from the user interface.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the two-way communication is configured to provide two-way digital communication.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the two-way communication is configured to provide digital serial communication.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the two-way communication is configured to provide wireless communication.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the auxiliary device is configured to perform an operation upon the water moved by the water pump.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of optimizing a power consumption of the variable speed motor over time based upon the parameter received from the auxiliary device.

33. The pumping system of claim 26, wherein the auxiliary device includes a personal computer and wherein at least a portion of the two-way communication includes a computer network, the method further comprising the step of remotely transmitting a parameter from the personal computer to the means for controlling through the computer network.